Spreader panel bullet



Dec. 8, 1953 J. E. ALLEN ET AL 2,661,694-

SPREADER PANEL BULLET Filed May 12, 1950 v Fig. i

. J0 E. Allen Wiiiiam H. Gm WWI INVENTORS Fatented Dec. 8, I953 TENT SPREADER PANEL BULLET James E. Allen and William H. Cantrell, Thayer, Mo.

Application May 12, 1950, Serial No. 161,5?4

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in projectiles and more particularly pertains to a projectile of the type which spread laterally upon impact with an object.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved projectile which is expansible upon impact.

Another object of this invention is to provide a projectile, in accordance with the foregoing object, in which the rate of expansion of the projectile on impact can be accurately controlled in a novel and improved manner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a projectile in accordance with the foregoing objects, in which a predetermined proportion of the impact force may be utilized to effect the time and extent of expansion.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a projectile, in accordance with the foregoing objects, in which the ratio of the penetration of the projectile to the expansion thereof can be accurately controlled.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a projectile, in accordance with the foregoing objects which is equally applicable to be used as a solid projectile alone, or as a cartridge type of bullet which utilizes a cartridge case associated with an explosive charge and primer.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of a projectile body having a plurality of relatively harder splints disposed in the matrix of the body and extending longitudinally thereof, with means for laterally spreading the forward ends of the splints relative to each other upon impact of the nose of the projectile with an object.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a projectile body having a plurality of relatively harder splints disposed in the matrix of the body, with a tapered key disposed between the forward end of the splints to urge the latter outwardly upon impact of the nose of the projectile with an object.

Yet another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a projectile in accordance with the foregoing feature, which key has a plunger thereon extending into the material of the nose of the projectile body, which plunger actuates the key, the relative positioning of the tip of the nose and the plunger end determining the rate at which the splints will be displaced laterally after impact.

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision of a projectile body in accordance with the foregoing features, which projectile has 2 Claims. (Cl. 102-91) a relatively harder base plate on the trailing end thereof, which base plate retains the trailing ends of the splints from spreading laterally of each other, and which base plate provides a mount to which a cartridge case may be secured providing a more rigid connection of the projectile body to the cartridge case.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a projectile body in accordance with the foregoing features in which the base plate has a keyed hub which spaces the trailing ends of the splints.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the projectile and a cartridge case which is shown attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a body with the projectile entering therein, and showing the manner in which the leading ends of the splints are spread laterally during impact;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view of the splint spreading plunger and key assembly;

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view of the base plate;

Figure 6 is a perspective detail View of one of the splints; and,

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the splints.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein i re numerals desighate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen. that there is provided a projectile indicated by the numeral it which maybesecured to a cartridge case l2 having an explosive charge l4 therein, or may alternatively be independently constructed and any suitable means for propelling the projectile utilized which means may be separate from the projectile.

The projectile it consists generally of a body portion It, a nose portion 58 and a base end 26. A plurality of splints 22 are disposed in the material of the body portion it and extend longitudinally thereof. It is intended that the material of the splints be relatively harder than the material of the body so that upon impact of the projectile with an object such as the block 25, that the splints may be spread, in a manner which will readily become apparent as the following description proceeds. Thus, the body Hi and nose 18 may be formed of any conventional relatively soft material such as lead, while the splints may be formed of steel or the like.

The splints 22, as best shown in Figure 3 are preferably of the form of sectors of a cylinder, but it is to be understood that various other configurations may be utilized without departing from the spirit of this invention. These splints have relatively angularly disposed inner surfaces 26 and a preferably arcuate outer surface 28, the inner surfaces of each of the splints being laterally spaced from the registering inner surfaces of the adjacent splints and the material of the body portion is disposed between the splints, the outer surface of the splints being disposed inwardly of the outer surface of the body It so that contact between thev splints and the barrel of the gun is prevented.

The leading ends 36 of the splints 22 are sharpened by having the inner surfaces 28 thereof inclined outwardly in a manner readily apparent from a consideration of the drawings. The outward-1y tapered inner surfaces of the splints 22 define a pocket which receives a substantially conical key which key may be provided with longitudinally extending, circumierentially spaced recesses 35, which recesses guidably receive the outwardly inclined inner surfaces of splints 22, and for this reason it is intended that the angle between the outwardly inclined portions of the inner surfaces '28 be substantially equal to that defined by the inner surfaces of the remainder of the splints.

ihe key 32 may be provided with an axial bore 36 which bore receives an actuating plunger 38 having a head it thereon. This plunger, as is best shown in Figure l of the drawings is imbedded in the material of the nose portion it of the projectile, and it is believed apparent that the varying or" the amount of the nose portion which projects forwardly of the head at? will vary force imparted to the key 32, upon impact of the projectile with an object 54, and consequently the ratio of the penetration of the projectile and the amount of spreading or the splints can be varied. It is also believed obvious that the plunger 38 can be eliminated the nose portion I8 serving to urge the key 3?; inwardly between the splints.

A base plate 42 may also be provided, which base plate has a peripheral flange M which serves the dual function of retaining the trailing ends 45 of the splints 22 from lateral displacement relative to each other while the forward ends thereof are urged relatively outwardly by the key 32, and which flange also provides a mount upon which a cartridge case mounting rim as may be secured to provide a more stable connection between the projectile and the cartridge case. An axial core member i! is secured to or formed integrally with the base plate 52, which core is provided with circumferentially spaced notches 52 which retain the trailing ends 46 of the splints 22 in spaced relation to each other during the 4 molding of the projectile and which serve to retain the splints, during the spreading thereof in substantially radially extending planes. As is apparent, the trailing ends 36 of the splints may be of reduced cross sectional area, as is shown in the accompanying drawings.

When utilizing the projectile it in a high powered rifle, a jacket 54 may be provided to prevent leading of the rifling in the barrel of the gun. This jacket will encase the body 55, and a portion of the nose 18, as is readily apparent from a consideration of Figure 1 of the drawings. Further, the jacket 5% may also enclose the trailing end of the projectile It, or the base plate 42', if the latter is utilized.

An alternative construction as shown in Figure 7 would be to utilize splints 28 which are severed at an angle intermediate their ends as at 5%, which angle extends forwardly and outwardly so that upon impact theforward section of the splint will urge the rear section outwardly, in the same manner as the key 32 urges the forward section outwardly.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the oporation and construction of the device will be readily understood. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification, and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to=liniit the invention to that shown and described, but all suitable modifications may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as" new is:

l. A bullet comprising a projectile body having a nose portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal pockets, a base at the end of the body remote from the nose; a splint in each of the pockets, an inwardly tapered key disposed in the body adjacent the nose and having a plurality oi peripherally spaced longitudinally extending recesses therein receiving the splints, an axial core member secured to the base and having circumierentially spaced notches slidably and removably receiving the splints, and an actuating plunger embedded in the nose, said key having a bore receiving said plunger.

2; The combination of claim 1 wherein said splints are each severed intermediate its ends to including inner and outer sections.

JAMES E. ALLEN. WILLIAM H. CANTRELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 948,148 Schenk Feb. 1, 1910 1,13%,79'7 Wood Apr. 5, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6035i) Germany Feb. 1, 18.92 1,850 Great Britain of 1897 

